The Philadelphia Eagles are Super Bowl champions for the first time ever and that means an invitation to the White House is likely on the way. But if/when it is extended, not every player is going to make the trip.
Which Eagles players won’t attend the White House to celebrate Super Bowl?
A handful of Eagles players have already said they have no interest in visiting the White House.
Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images
A year ago, exactly half of the 68 players from the Patriots invited by Donald Trump visited the White House, with 34 opting not to go to Washington. Some cited reasons not related to politics, like Tom Brady who skipped because of “personal family matters.” But others — like Chris Long, LeGarrette Blount, and Martellus Bennett — said Trump was the reason for declining the invitation.
Blount and Long became members of the Eagles in the offseason and likely won’t attend again. Long already said as much before the game on the Pardon My Take podcast.
In September, Trump rescinded an invitation to the White House for the NBA’s Golden State Warriors after critical comments made by Stephen Curry and head coach Steve Kerr.
Here is a complete timeline of Eagles players saying that they won’t attend the White House celebration:
One of the most outspoken advocates of criminal justice reform in the NFL joined CNN on Monday morning and said a trip to visit the White House is unlikely.
“I personally do not anticipate attending that,” Jenkins said during the interview. “[I’m not sending] a message [to] the president, my message has been clear all year. I’m about creating positive change in the communities that I come from, whether it be Philadelphia, New Jersey, Ohio, Louisiana, or this entire country.
“I want to see changes in our criminal justice system. I want to see us push for economic and educational advancement in communities of color and low-income communities. And I want to see our relationships between our communities and our law enforcement be advanced.”
The Eagles receiver said Wednesday — four days before the Super Bowl — that he wouldn’t attend the White House if invited.
“We read the news just like everyone else,” Smith said, via NJ.com. “You see Donald Trump tweet something ... We have those conversations in the locker room, just like everyone else does in the workplace. We’re very informed about what goes on, and we’re trying to continue to educate ourselves. It’s pretty special to have a group like that of folks that aren’t just socially conscious, but folks who genuinely care about people and care about learning more.”
Smith previously won the Super Bowl with the Baltimore Ravens five years ago and visited the White House to celebrate.
Chris Long
The defensive end was one of many Patriots players not to visit last year and he doesn’t plan on visiting now either.
“No, I’m not going to the White House. Are you kidding me?” Long said on the Pardon My Take podcast last Sunday.
Long donated his entire 2017 salary to charity and has been an advocate for education equality. Last year, he received criticism for choosing not to visit Washington, D.C., but fired back at those who disapproved.
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